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A Qatarstrophy: This World Cup is probably the worst one in history

It's a humanitarian and environmental disaster.

The doom spiral of Twitter: toxicity drives use, but toxicity also kills social networks

Under Musk's free-for-all guise, Twitter is in a very precarious spot, and research says it's unlikely to do well.

Visualizing the data behind the climate crisis

These graphs and charts explain why the world is on the brink of a climate catastrophy -- but also how we got here.

Remember the infamous Swedish pandemic model? Turns out, it really didn't work

Sweden's unique approach in the early days of the pandemic put people needlessly at risk. A different approach would have saved lives.

Despite Gruesome War, Bat Rescue Continues in Ukraine

Struggling to save trapped and injured bats, scientists endure Russian shelling and accusations of spreading bioweapons.

From Japan to Iceland, futuristic vertical farms are starting to bloom

Indoor farming is a growing trend in urban centers, where a single facility can grow millions of heads of lettuce.

14 Japanese concepts that will help you see life in a different light

Something to make you look at things with a different lens.

This tree is live-tweeting climate change -- and it needs a hug

With a little help from a team of researchers, we get to see what climate change looks like from the perspective of a northern red oak.

Researcher recreates ancient arrow quiver belonging to Ötzi the Iceman

Even as some questions are unclear, the replica is helping us understand a piece of this ancient time.

A bored Chinese housewife created a compelling (but fake) alternative history on Wikipedia, fooling everyone for a decade

It's a type of forgery we've never seen before, and this novel-worthy fiction was created out of boredom and loneliness.

Bizarre cheating scandals are rocking the worlds of chess, poker, fishing, and tap dancing

From putting lead in fish to anal beads, the ongoing scandals have it all. Have a seat, we're going down the rabbit hole.

Ancient pre-Viking arrow among trove of artifacts left behind by melting ice in Norway

The arrow, which shows impressive craftsmanship, dates from the 6th century BC, two hundred years before the Vikings emerged.

What is mathematics, an art or a science?

Mathematics has long been dancing between the arts and the sciences. It's hard to corner it into one camp.

Chess drama: accusations of cheating and counteraccusations rattle prestigious chess tournament

Even Elon Musk is tweeting about it.

Could auctions help California make better use of its water? This leading economist believes so

We interviewed a Nobel Laureate about his ambitious plan to make California's water usage more efficient.

The effect turning our cities into heat islands

The images are pretty, but the effects can be very ugly.

Birds are using plastic plants for their nests, and it's the most Anthropocene thing ever

Man-made materials are slowly taking over the natural world.

These photos of adorable Baikal seals above and beneath the water will cleanse the depressing news cycle

It's a beautiful world that's normally hidden from our eyes.

Abel Laureate Dennis Sullivan wants you to look at math differently -- and stay interested

Everything revolves around one or two things: space and numbers.

Peatlands help protect us from climate change. But if we don't, they'll turn on us

Moor, bog, fen, mire, swamp or pocosins, whatever you may call it, are all peatland – also known as wetlands, with a twist.

What the science says about abortion rights

Safe and accessible reproductive health is backed by science and doctors. Reducing women's rights doesn't help.

The faces of the past -- blending science and art to reconstruct faces with Oscar Nillson

The faces of the past look simply stunning.

What Does the Large Hadron Collider Upgrade Mean for Physics?

The Large Hadron Collider made history in 2012 by discovering the Higgs boson, now as it restarts, the search begins for new physics.

Pathogens influence building architecture -- the coronavirus will be no exception

From something simple as ensuring air circulation to futuristic designs, building can be our ally in the fight against diseases.

Polar bears move into an abandoned weather station in the Arctic, allowing an eerily beautiful photoshoot

Probably the most interesting polar bear photos you've ever seen.

One country's struggling efforts to fight cervical cancer: Romania takes on HPV vaccination

We can vaccinate against a type of virus that can cause cancer. But in the real world, vaccination campaigns are often fraught with challenges.

The Journey To Complete Meat Substitution: Are We There Yet?

Meat replacements are coming.

Antivaxx and pro-Kremlin propaganda seem increasingly linked

A lot of antivaxx groups are suddenly pro-Putin.

Your favorite fruits may have come from radioactive plants. Meet the wonderous ‘gamma gardens’

The number of mutant plant varieties on the market is unknown.

How Ukrainians are desperately fighting to protect their cultural heritage amid an invasion

Ukraine's museums, artists and art lovers are fighting hard to protect their country's past, present, and future.

How open-source intelligence (OSINT) is exposing the Ukraine war in real-time

This is the first war that is almost like a live-broadcast -- and the OSINT community is helping us make sense of it all.

The other tragedy in Ukraine: animals in zoos and shelters are getting killed. So are their keepers

It's just one of many gut wrenching stories from Ukraine. Links on how to help are at the bottom of the page

Russia's war in Ukraine is hard to grasp. We tried to make sense of it

This is a multi-faceted conflict that could shape the face of the world for many years to come.

Eunice Foote: the first person to measure the impact of carbon dioxide on climate

Eunice Foote was the first to discover that carbon dioxide traps heat in the atmosphere.

How Russia already lost the information war -- and Ukraine won it

Regardless of what happens in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the story is already clear for the free world.

These hard-bodied robots can reproduce, learn and evolve autonomously

Virtual code has become virtual DNA.

Cultured meat is coming. But will people eat it?

Cultured meat has a lot of advantages. But if people won't eat it, it's all for naught.

Your microbiota will be having non-stop sex this Valentine’s Day

Bacteria don’t have sex to reproduce; they use it to stay alive and healthy.

A lot of "sea serpent sightings" could actually be whale boners

Talk about a plot twist.

An atlas for endangered alphabets could save them from disappearing

You've heard of endangered species, but have you heard of endangered alphabets?

What does the universe sound like? The eerie world of cosmic sonification

The sonification of astronomical data provides a new way to experience the cosmos.

Stealth bomber caught mid-flight by Google Maps photo

Not so stealthy after all, eh?

‘Real’ clothes are so yesterday. Modern clothes are sustainable, flamboyant -- and virtual

As recent events and technology are pushing the world into new, surprising directions, fashion is trying to adapt and stay relevant.

Will COVID-19 kill the open-plan office?

A favorite of many companies, the open plan office is under great pressure and may be forced to change substantially -- or go away.

Solar farms are now starting to replace golf courses

Golf courses could be turned into something much more useful and eco-friendly -- and some places are doing just that

In the polar winter of 1961, a Soviet surgeon took out his own appendix

It's one of the most badass feats in medical history.

We need to protect 50% of the planet -- but even that’s not enough

You may have heard the idea that we need to protect half of the planet to ensure enough resources for the sustainable replenishment of natural resources.

The 'Tsar Bomba': the most powerful nuclear weapon ever made

The nuclear device was so powerful, it was too big to use effectively.

Why did plague doctors wear that weird beaked costume?

The sinister uniform represents a fascinating trip into history, during a time when humans were still struggling to understand infectious diseases.

These poignant cartoons sum up exactly how we feel about COP26

It's frustration, frustration, frustration